B-1 fleet grounded after landing gear collapses

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SAN ANTONIO (AFPN) --  B-1 Lancers Air Force-wide were grounded after one aircraft’s nose-gear collapsed at a forward-deployed location supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Air Combat Command officials said Jan. 4.

The 67 aircraft fleet will be grounded until each aircraft goes through a one-time inspection. Officials said they expect the inspections to be completed within a few days.

After landing safely at the deployed location, the pilot taxied the aircraft to its parking spot. When the engines were shut down, the nose landing gear collapsed, officials said.

No one was injured in the incident. The aircraft and its four-person crew are deployed from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., to the 40th Air Expeditionary Group.

A board is investigating the cause of the collapse and determining the extent of damage to the aircraft.